London - Chelsea Flower Show - Photos of the week - The week in pictures - May 21-27, 2016 - Pictures - CBS News West Point cadet in tears The most compelling images from the week's news, May 21-27, 2016. Soon-to-be pinned 2nd Lt. Alix Schoelcher Idrache, with his face covered in tears, looks back at the crowd during the commencement ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, May 21, 2016. In seven years, Indrache went from speaking basic English in a working class neighborhood in Port-au-Prince to graduating from one of the most prestigious military and educational institutions in the United States. This July, Idrache will enter the Army Aviation Center for Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as West Point's top-ranking graduate this year in physics. This July, Alix train to be a pilot at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as West Point's top-ranking graduate this year in physics. By CBSNews.com Senior Photo Editor Radhika Chalasani Credit: Staff Sgt Vito T.

Bryant/Army London - Chelsea Flower Show The stigma of a Meconopsis 'Slieve Donard' is seen at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, May 24, 2016. Credit: Stefan Wermuth/REUTERS Topless Hillary supporters Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes a photo with supporters John Nelson, 32, (L) and Dan Stifler, 32, (C) after speaking at the UFCW Union Local 324 in Buena Park, California, May 25, 2016. Credit: Lucy Nicholson REUTERS Ukrainian pilot releasaed Ukrainian servicewoman Nadiya Savchenko reacts at Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, May 25, 2016. Savchenko spent nearly two years in detention for Russian allegations she was involved in the killing of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. She was convicted earlier this year, but was traded for Russian captivse.

Credit: Gleb Garanich/REUTERS Fleet Week The wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan passes the Statue of Liberty as it arrives in New York Harbor to mark the beginning of Fleet Week in New York City, May 25, 2016. Credit: Lucas Jackson/REUTERS Mount Sinabung Primary school children wear masks while studying in the classroom in Karo district, North Sumatra province, on May 24, 2016, as Mount Sinabung is seen spewing out volcanic ash through the school window reflection. Indonesian rescuers searched for survivors in scorched villages and devastated farmlands after the volcano erupted in clouds of searing ash and gas, killing seven and leaving others fighting life-threatening burns. Credit: Fatima Elkareem/AFP/Getty Images 5000 Poppies Garden A volunteer stands to the entrance of the 5000 Poppies Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 23, 2016, the garden, created by Australians Lynn Berry and Margaret Knight is a tribute to their fathers who both fought in WWII.

The Chelsea flower show, held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, runs from May 24-28. Credit: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images New Delhi - Plane crash Indian bystanders and emergency personnel gather around the wreckage of an aircraft which crash landed in a field on the outskirts of New Delhi on May 24, 2016. An air ambulance crash landed in a field near New Delhi airport on Tuesday, but all seven people on board survived, police said. Credit: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images Obama in Vietnam President Barack Obama speaks at the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative town hall event in Ho Chi Minh City on May 25, 2016. Obama urged communist Vietnam on May 24 to abandon authoritarianism, saying basic human rights would not jeopardize its stability, after Hanoi barred several dissidents from meeting Obama. Credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images France - Giraffes A giraffes nuzzles another giraffe at the African Reserve (Réserve Africaine ) of Sigean, southern France on May 24, 2016.

Credit: Raymond Roig/AFP/Getty Images Migrants rescued off Libya Migrants are seen on a capsizing boat before a rescue operation by Italian navy ships "Bettica" and "Bergamini" off the coast of Libya in this photo released on May 25, 2016. Twenty two separate coast guard rescue operations were conducted in just one day involving the rescue of some 4,000 migrants in the Mediterranean. Credit: Marina Militare/Handout via REUTERS Migrants rescued off Libya Migrants protect themselves from the cold with blankets as they wait to arrive in the port of Cagliari, Sardinia on May 26, 2016, aboard the rescue ship "Aquarius" two days after their rescue off the Libyan coast. Credit: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images California - Trump supporter A supporter wearing a "Chinese Americans Love Trump" shirt takes the stage with other female Trump supporters at a campaign rally by the presumptive Republican presidential candidate , May 25, 2016 in Anaheim, California. Several major news organizations, including CBS News , estimated that Trump had reached the 1,237 delegates needed for the Republican nomination this week.

Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images France - Riot police Riot police stand guard behind a fire as refinery workers hold a blockade of the oil depot of Douchy-Les-Mines to protest against the government's proposed labor reforms on May 25, 2016. Refinery workers stepped up strikes that threaten to paralyze France as the government moved to break their blockades, escalating a three-month tug-of-war over labor reforms. Credit: Francois Lo Presti/AFP/Getty Images Obama in Vietnam A man holds up a portrait of U.S. President Barack Obama as people line the streets to catch a glimpse of him on Obama's way to the airport at the end of a two-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City on May 25, 2016. Obama fielded questions on May 25 on everything from rap and weed smoking to leadership and his good looks at a lively town hall-style meeting with young Vietnamese, who say the U.S. leader is a far cry from their staid Communist rulers.

Credit: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images China - College entrance exams Senior high school students study at night to prepare for the college entrance exams at a high school in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu province, May 24, 2016. The three-day 2016 college entrance exam starts on June 7. Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images Vietnam - Rescued whale Hundreds of local inhabitants rescue a 15 meter-long and 2 meter-high whale swept offshore in the central coastal province of Nghe An on May 25, 2016. The operation was successful after vehicles including an excavator were mobilized to create a canal enabling the return the alive whale to the sea. Vietnamese fishermen consider whales as the Nam Hai (South Sea) God which protect and support them in their daily life and at sea. Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images Auschwitz - X-ray picture X-ray picture shows a mug with a gold ring hidden under a false bottom at the Auschwitz Birkenau State Museum in Oswiecim, Poland on May 6, 2016.

Credit: Auschwitz Memorial/Handout via REUTERS Japan - G7 (From L) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Francois Hollande participate in a tree planting ceremony at Ise-Jingu Shrine in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, on May 26, 2016 on the first day of the G7 leaders summit. World leaders kicked off two days of G7 talks in Japan on May 26 with the creaky global economy, terrorism, refugees, China's controversial maritime claims, and a possible Brexit headlining their packed agenda. Credit: Ma Ping/AFP/Getty Images Mogadishu - Flooded streets A man walks his donkey and its load through a flooded street in Beledweyne, north of Mogadishu on May 26, 2016. Hundreds of families have been forced out of their homes following flash floods in Beledweyne after torrential rains pounded the area in the last few days. The heavy rains led to the bursting of River Shabelle which caused massive floods in residential areas along the river. Credit: Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP/Getty Images Arlington - U.S.

flags Members of the U.S. Army stock up on American flags before placing them at graves in Arlington National Cemetery on May 26, 2016 in Virginia in preparation for Memorial Day. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Hiroshima - Obama and Abe U.S. President Barack Obama (R) puts his arm around Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after they laid wreaths in front of a cenotaph as the atomic bomb dome is background at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, May 27, 2016. Credit: Kimimasa Mayama/Pool/REUTERS Billboard Awards Millennium Award recipient Britney Spears performs a medley of songs at the 2016 Billboard Awards in Las Vegas, May 22, 2016. Credit: Mario Anzuoni/REUTERS Greece - Migrants A migrant boy carries his belongings during an evacuation operation by police of a makeshift migrant camp at the border at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni on May 24, 2016.

In an operation which began shortly after sunrise on May 24, hundreds of Greek police began evacuating the sprawling camp, currently home to 8,400 refugees and migrants, among them many families with children. Credit: Yannis Kolesidis/AFP/Getty Images China - Dog swimming A dog is pulled out of a pool after a dog swimming contest in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China on May 21, 2016. Credit: REUTERS Clown arrested Orange County Sheriff's deputies arrest a protester near the Anaheim Convention Center, hosting a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Wednesday, May 25, 2016, in Anaheim, California. Credit: Jae C. Hong/AP EgyptAir crash debris This picture posted Saturday, May 21, 2016, on the official Facebook page of the Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman shows part of a plane chair from EgyptAir flight 804. Search crews found floating human remains, luggage and seats from the doomed EgyptAir jetliner Friday.

Credit: Egyptian Armed Forces via AP Cannes - Ken Loach Director Ken Loach, Palme d'Or award winner for his film "I, Daniel Blake", poses during a photo call after the closing ceremony of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in France, May 22, 2016. Credit: Regis Duvignau/REUTERS China - Hanging from rope People slide down a rope from a bridge during a rescue training in Chongqing, China, May 22, 2016. Credit: China Daily/REUTERS California - Bernie look-a-like Ariella Reiss (L) poses while dressed as Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders before a campaign rally in Santa Monica, California, May 23, 2016. Credit: Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS Vivid Sydney A spectacular light display, called "Songlines," on Sydney Opera House's sails in Australia creates a kaleidoscope of colors as part of the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas -- "Vivid Sydney." The festival, that includes colorful projections across the city, opened May 27 and runs until June 18, 2016.

The opera house display includes a variety of projections featuring the work of indigenous artists on the sails of the Opera House. Credit: Vivid Media Acquittal in death of Freddie Gray Baltimore City Sheriff's Deputies surround and protect Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero's family members as they leaves the Mitchell Courthouse-West after Nero was found not guilty on all charges against him related to the arrest and death of Freddie Gray May 23, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. One of six police officers charged, Nero was found not guilty by Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams in a bench trial. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Israeli soldiers Israeli soldiers of the Search and Rescue brigade take part in a training session in Ben Shemen forest, near the city of Modi'in, May 23, 2016. Credit: Amir Cohen/REUTERS Tunisia - Jihadist Photographs of Rahma (L), the wife of Noureddine Chouchane, a jihadist who was killed during a U.S strike in Libya, and her sister Gofran (R), are seen in a newspaper in Tunis, Tunisia April 14, 2016. Tunisia's 2011 uprising created fertile ground for jihadist recruiters.

Hundreds of Islamist militants were freed from prison as part of an amnesty for those detained under Ben Ali. Credit: Zohra Bensemra/REUTERS JR at the Louvre People walk in front of the Louvre Pyramid covered with a giant photographic illusion by the French artist known as JR on May 19, 2016 in Paris. The artist was invited by the Louvre, the largest museum in the world, to transform the Pyramid. Credit: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Angel of Turkey Contestants prepare backstage during the Angel of Turkey transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Istanbul, Turkey, late May 26, 2016. Credit: Murad Sezer/REUTERS Barbados, Grenada win gold at Chelsea Flower Show | Caribbean360 Barbados, Grenada win gold at Chelsea Flower Show Recipient Email Enter a Message I read this article and found it very interesting, thought it might be something for you. The article is called Barbados, Grenada win gold at Chelsea Flower Show and is located at Captcha 0 The 2015 Chelsea Gold Team amidst the winning ‘Gully Adventure’ display.

LONDON, England, Tuesday May 19, 2015 – Barbados and Grenada have copped prestigious gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. The Barbados Horticultural Society (BHS) impressed the judges to take the gold – the 17th in 28 appearances at the show – with its 20 ft by 20 ft ‘Gully Adventure’ display which recreated a Barbadian gully using foliage and blooms grown by members and supporters across the island and featured recorded sounds of whistling frogs and crickets. The Grenada-Cathy John exhibit entitled ‘Pure Grenada’s Rainforest’ brought Grenada to life with a scale representation of the mountainous rainforest and volcanic crater lake at the heart of the island.

In a move away from the traditional emphasis on magnificent tropical flowers, this year’s Barbados display mainly comprised the wide variety of plants and vines that can be found in a gully, including: Bearded Fig Tree vines, Golden Pothus vines, Dracaenas, Schefflera, Philodendrums, Alocasia, Aralias, Monstera, Strelitzia, Crotons, Bromeliads, Anthurium leaves, several species of Ferns and a number of tall Palms. A stunning selection of Orchids, Ginger Lilies, Heliconias, Anthuriums and Ornamental Bananas was also arranged in key locations. “A gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show is the most prestigious accolade in the horticultural world and the Barbados team worked extremely hard to get this one!” a release from the BHS said.

“The tremendous ongoing success of Barbados at the Chelsea Flower Show is very much the result of a great collective effort, whereby many people willingly share their skills and resources.” How garden enthusiasts in Barbados prepared for the Chelsea Flower Show #RHSChelsea 2015 pic.twitter.com/L2pRo8R5JC — Telegraph Travel (@TelegraphTravel) May 18, 2015 In addition to the 17 gold medals won over the years, Barbados has taken one Silver and 10 Silver-gilt. Meanwhile, Grenada’s exhibit emphasized the rich rainforest ferns and flora typical of Grenada’s Grand Etang National Park. The greenery and spices were grown in Grenada by members of the Chelsea team and arranged to John’s design experts. “Our exhibit promotes Grenada’s extraordinary biodiversity, and showcases the different spices that thrive at different levels of vegetation,” John said. “We’re delighted that the exhibit, with its bold scale representation and use of Grenada’s famous spices, has been awarded a Gold Medal here in London.

My personal inspiration for the Pure Grenada’s Rainforest design comes from my love and respect for the cool, calm serenity of the rainforest and the vital role it plays in the life of my island home. In addition to a providing visitors with a treat for all the senses, the rainforest is the source of our precious water, upon which we all depend.” Chelsea flower show 2015 – in pictures pic.twitter.com/j2PPtokSSq — The Guardian (@guardian) May 19, 2015 The Chelsea Flower Show continues until Saturday. Going to the #ChelseaFlowerShow ? Here are some flower idioms you need to know: pic.twitter.com/fFvhD5tUK1 — Oxford Dictionaries (@OxfordWords) May 19, 2015 Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. ( View sample ) 326 Hotels near Chelsea Flower Show, London, UK. Book your hotel now! - Booking.com More properties near Chelsea Flower Show We've negotiated with thousands of hotels to get the very best deals. We call them Secret Deals and they only last for a limited time.

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My first name is Plants Flowering in July - Page 1 - Burncoose Nurseries - plants by mail order direct to you Plants Flowering in July Alpine or Rock Plant (20) Bulb/Corm (17) May cause skin allergy or irritant (109) Medium Shrub (248) Will grow outside in milder locations (23) Price 1 or 1.5 Litre (50) 1.5 or 2 Litre (315) 9cm or 2 Litre (1) 2 Litre (16) 2 or 3 Litre (485) 3 Litre Deep (25) RHS Chelsea Flower Show | Jekka's Herb Farm RHS Chelsea Flower Show / Jekka's Herb Farm / 8 Comments The 100th Chelsea Flower Show will be certainly one to remember, the weather played havoc before we arrived and the Friday was the coldest wettest day that I have experienced in our history of the show, which is 21 years. But despite the weather the flower show weaved it’s MAGIC. BORAGE THE GNOME.

Before the show opened Borage was in much demand as gnomes were being allowed at the Chelsea flower show for the very first time. Of course he went, but he behaved so badly that we sent him gnome ( sorry!!!) Borage and his friends at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show SUNDAY is the final day of build up, hence the HiVis tops as the site is still considered to be a building site . We finished our display and had a lovely time catching up with old friends such as Alan and Toby who were both busy recording with the BBC. Sunday at Chelsea before the show opens MONDAY Hannah dressed up in 1913 costume to celebrate the 100th Chelsea Flower Show, she looked amazing. The launch of the new Jekka’s Herbs at Canton Tea herb teas was a big success, everyone loved the Lemon Grass Tea. It was great to be able to see and greet many old and new friends, especially Toby who was the RHS Young School Gardener of the Year, a gardener of the future. Monday at the Chelsea Flower Show TUESDAY is the first official day of the show .

Nancy, known as the’ Lemon Verbena Lady’ in her blog, visited the show for the first time from the USA. Vicki , like Hannah, also took the trouble to dress up in 1913 costume which was much appreciated by all of us and the visitors. The borage that we started growing last November for Chelsea could be seen here in Adam Frost’s garden ‘Sowing Seeds of Change’ which was awarded a worthy gold medal. Tuesday at the Chelsea Flower show WEDNESDAY Over the years that the Fleming’s have been exhibiting at the Chelsea show we have become good friends. Wes Fleming informed us that sadly this would be their last exhibit. So it was even more pleasing that they finished with the award of Best Show Garden. Fleming’s nurseries the Trailfinders Australian Garden awarded best Show Garden The Trailfinders Australian garden early in the morning. THURSDAY Every year there is one herb that catches the attention, this year it was Nasturtium Alaska which behaved beautifully. Nasturtium Alaska FRIDAY We have been exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower show for 21 years and never have we known it to be so cold and wet all day.

Wet Friday The weather did not put off our good friends from Norway who enjoyed the show. Liv Ragnhild Lassen from Norway SATURDAY The last day is always a mixture of feelings. Glad to be going home, but sad that this beautiful show will have vanished and will only be preserved in photographs. The people choice went to the the Arthritis Research UK garden by Chris Beardshaw. This border filled with Sweet cicely , Myrrhis odorat a was one of our favourites in the show. The Arthritis Research UK garden with Sweet Cicely, Myrrhis odorata Once the bell has been rung to signal the end of the show, the plants in the Great Pavillion and from our stand are sold. The packing up of the stand Then, when everyone has left the site, we pack up and wait for the lorries to come in to take everything back to the Herb Farm. While we wait we plan our stand for next year’s Chelsea Flower Show which will have all the drama, beauty and magic that we have had this year`.

And now it is time for our Herb Friday’s we are open every friday from May 31st until July 12th from 10am – 4pm when we look forward to showing you the Herboretum , the Herbs and having a cup of our new herb tea with home made cakes. Annual herbs at the Herboretum Share this: / Jekka at Jekka's Herb Farm / 10 Comments Thymus ‘Jekka’, Artemisia absinthium, Wormwood,Mentha longifolia subsp schimperi Eastern Mint, Atriplex hortensis var. rubra Red Orach, Papaver rhoeas Field Poppy. I always find it truly amazing that, however worried I get before Chelsea and whatever the vagaries of the weather, the plants seem to know that it is ‘Show Time’ and simply shine on the day. Who would have thought it would have been possible to have the Poppy in flower especially as, one week before the show, they were still buds. Papaver rhoeas, Poppy and Linum perenne, Flax.

We grew them for 2 show gardens, the Arthritis Research Garden and the L’Occitane Immortelle Garden, and used the surplus stock in our own display. The simple splash of red draws you eye to see even more detail within the garden. Istatis tinctoria, Woad looked stunning in the L’Occitane Immortelle Garden and also the Renault garden in the new Fresh garden section of the show. Istatis tinctoria, Woad, with Silybum marianum, Milk Thistle in front This is a traditional dye plant which produces a blue/grey dye from the mature leaves. As a dye plant it has now been nearly superseded by indigo. Isatis tinctoria, Woad, in full yellow flower under planted with Allium schoenoprasum, Chives,and Nepeta x faassenii, Catmint. We also battled with the cornflowers for the RBC Blue Water garden and even they sprung into flower just in time. Centaurea cyanus, Cornflower But the star of this year, as in many previous years,was Angelica . It looked architecturally splendid on the M&G garden.

Angelica archangelica, Angelica It also attracted the honey bees which were being constantly photographed on our stand. The question of the show was about Alkanet and Borage as many seemed confused as to which was which . To make it quite clear. Alkanet, like its first cousin Comfrey, is a herbaceous perennial reappearing each year in the same place. It is not edible, the roots produce a red dye which was traditional used to colour rouge. Borage, on the other hand, is an annual herb which will happily self seed itself all round your garden. The leaves and flowers are edible and medicinal. The flowers are synonymous with the drink Pimm’s. As we close on this years Chelsea we are already in full preparation for 2013, the 100th Chelsea Flower Show, which will, I am sure, be as spectacular as this year has been. Thymus ‘Jekka’ / Jekka at Jekka's Herb Farm / 12 Comments Chelsea Flower show started off in style. Myrtle our tiny black cat decided that she would stow away in the lorry and see what all the fuss was about . Being such a timid cat we were amazed that she went.

Luckily Carol, who was helping with the deliveries to the Show gardens, spotted her running out of our lorry into the Alitex glasshouse , at least she has good taste. She is now safely home showing off about her adventure. Friday 18th May, we left for the show wearing thermals and coats. We returned late on Saturday night, 26th May, wearing thin shirts ,thin trousers and dark glasses. What a difference in a week. Having delivered all the plants to the show gardens I was very eager to see what the garden designers had done with our prize babies but, before I could have the pleasure of seeing them, we had to ‘Crack on’ and build our own display. Sunday, after we finished our display and our stand I went into the great floral pavilion to start my assessing of the floral exhibits as I had the honour of chairing the judging. The exhibits were stunning, even more so this year, considering the weather. Monday is Press, Judging and Royal visit. We had our fair share of visitors, I was very pleased to see Ringo again and touched that he took the time to find us.

I asked him how the plants he had bought from our 2009 exhibit were fairing. He enthusiasticiy told me where and how he had planted them, proving that he is a great gardener. Talking of great gardeners I was thrilled to see Penelope Hobhouse. She has known me since I was a child and has always given me good sound advice, which I treasure. After chairing the judging I had the pleasure of show Prince Michael of Kent around the show. This was followed by the President of the RHS presenting me to her Majesty the Queen during the evening reception, which was a wonderful, especially in this Diamond Jubilee year, and a lovely way to end a very special day. Tuesday, results day and the gates open to the RHS members. The L’Occitane en Provence garden won a deserved gold medal which was justice to Peter Dowle, Angie and their team who had worked so hard to pull this off. Some days before the show Tom Hoblyn, who was creating t he Arthritis research UK garden, visited the Herb Farm to check on his plants and saw my large Angelica .

He rang his good friend Andy Sturgeon, who was designing the M&G garden , as he knew he was missing a large specimen plant for his garden. Don’t they look splendid. This garden won a deserved gold medal. Wednesday, our new seed collections , designed by Hannah McVicar were selling incredibly well, especially the Edible Flowers, which was very exciting so much so that we had to ring back to the farm for more . In the early evening I was invited to open the Edible and Useful garden at the Chelsea Physic Garden . This was a huge honour and a privelage. My great aunt took me to see this garden many, many years ago when it truly was London’s best kept secret garden. Today it is one of the best havens in a never sleeping city. Thursday, before the show opened Jamie Oliver visited to see the show . It was great to see him looking so well despite his punishing schedule, as I know he had only just returned from the USA. Also up bright and early that morning was Cleve West, the designer of The Brewin Dolphin garden , sweeping up the plane tree blosom which was falling like snow, making us all cough and our eyes stream.

He not only did this, he also did the majority of the watering, proving that he is a true gardener not just a designer. This garden won the Best in Show, it was a stunningly beautiful garden. Friday, the heat on our stand had been proving horrendous, we were, according to my phone, 34C, but kindly Mac, with the fresh supply of seed, also brought up a fan to cool us down. So we were back to being human. It was lovely to see so many people enthusastic about growing plants from seed. Saturday The final day and it ended on a true high note. We had grown loads of plants for Tom Hoblyn, who created the Arthritis research UK garden. It had been awarded a silver gilt medal, so we were, with him and his team, feeling a bit low. But….. the public know better and gave it ‘The People Choice’, which was simply brilliant. An accolade to him and his team for all their hard work. Next week, hopefully, I will blog about the true stars of this magnificent show, THE PLANTS. To whet your appetite here are a few in the Arthritis Research UK’s garden.

Share this: / Jekka at Jekka's Herb Farm / 1 Comment For the past twelve months we have been preparing for this years Chelsea Flower show. We have been growing herbs for three show gardens, t he Arthritis Research UK garden designed by Tom Hoblyn , the L’Occitane immortelle garden designed by Peter Dowle and the RCB Blue Water garden designed by Nigel Dunnett and the Landscape agency . To say that it has been a difficult growing year would be an understatement. The weather has been so unpredictable. So much so that, today , as I sit here writing this Blog, I have heard it is snowing in the north of England and we are forecast to have a frost tonight. Here is my photographic diary of the key points of the final 5 months. JANUARY Germination of all the annuals in January was extremely good due to the excellent light levels. FEBRUARY everything was on schedule however we had had very little rain. MARCH Horticultural fleece not only acts like a duvet to the young plants it also is a very good barrier for pests like carrot fly and flea beetle.

At the end of the month we did the first ‘Chelsea chop’ of the nasturtium flowers, this was repeated weekly to prohibit them from setting seed which would stop them flowering. APRIL It rained, and rained and rained . The low light levels inhibited growth, the flower bud which formed in March stood still and everyone felt miserable including Hampton. However there were some high points at the end of the month. These Melanoselinum were looking fantastic and, due to the cold weather, I knew they would just hang on for the big event. The red orach , sown in January, is spot on despite the weather and this thyme was spot on with flower and would be a show stopper. MAY The pressure is really on, we spend hours tidying the plants prior to delivery and hoping that the key plants pop into flower. The one giving me the most worry were the poppies , they have had lovely buds since the end of March but no flower, then a week before they were due to leave the flowers started to appear. The week before the show opens we start delivering all the plants that we have grown to the respective gardens. The weather was not kind, this was a very painful downpour of hail.

44 trolleys were loaded 3 long journeys to London expertly driven by Jim accompanied by Carol, and they were all safely delivered to the designers. Today I start preparing for our stand at the show. We have been given a very prestigious site SW1, which fronts onto the Main avenue. The story of which will follow in the next Blog. After a major tidy up of the herb farm we will start our preparations for Chelsea 2013 which will be the 100th Chelsea Flower show. This I am sure will be another amazing epic in the history of the best flower show in the world. Share this: / Jekka's Herb Farm / 9 Comments Now that the clocks have changed and the weather has transformed from winter to high spring over night, it is the ideal time to prune your Lemon Verbena. Be brave, cut back hard to just above a leaf bud or to where they will eventually form; they are easily visible on the stem. By doing this now you will be rewarded with masses of new growth in the summer. This will then give you masses of leaves too make the wonderful tisane which is called ‘Verveine’ in France.

Alternatively you can make one my families favourites Lemon Verbena Crème Brulee My mother made the best crème brulee. Alistair, my son, has inherited her passion for them and always rates restaurants and cooks on how well they make them. This is a wonderful recipe; the flavour with its hint of lemon sherbet makes this brulee very special. Serves 4, Preheat Oven to 140°C/275F/gas mark 1 225ml milk 1 handful of lemon verbena leaves finely chopped, ( reserve 4 whole leaves for use as garnish) 7 egg yolks 60ml double cream 50g demerara sugar Put the milk in a pan with the chopped lemon verbena leaves, bring to simmering point, remove from the heat and then leave to cool and infuse. Place the egg yolks in a bowl with the caster sugar and whisk until pale and thick. Add the cooled infused milk and cream, whisk well. Pass through a fine meshed sieve. Ladle the mixture into 4 ramekin dishes and set them in a roasting pan.

Pour in enough water to come three quarters the way up the side of the ramekins, pop into the pre heated oven and cook for 1 hour or until set. Leave to cool and refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, sprinkle the demerara sugar over the top and caramelise with either a blow torch or by putting them under a hot grill. Decorate with some fresh lemon verbena leaves. / Jekka at Jekka's Herb Farm / 6 Comments For the last few weeks I have been battling with the propagation schedule for 2012. When one grows annuals, perennials, shrub, woody, tender and tropical herbs in a comparatively small propagation area, it is rather like doing one of those impossible jigsaws. We have just finished all the root cuttings so that the seed sowing schedule can start next week. Priority goes to the Chelsea annuals that have to be in flower for May, what a thought just 24 weeks until we deliver , no pressure!

We will do two sowings, one now and one in a month’s time, this second sowing will catch up, but we need the insurance so that can we guarantee, as much as possible, that the plants will be as near perfect for those unique days in May at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show So the headache is that I need to get x amount of trays through the house in December and January, when the light levels are low and the day and night time temperatures are erratic so making it nearly impossible to schedule. Where as the April schedule for plants, sellable in July, is much easier as one can actually forecast how long a plant will take from seed to sale, which on average is 6 weeks. So to help me concentrate and to stop me feeling uptight with the computer I am drinking my 3pm tea and when things get really bad, I go and find Hampton, my dog, and walk the farm. I have made an interesting mistake with my own garden, I put these pea seeds to dry on the table near my house, before storing, then forgot them, and it rained, they have now germinated . So I have potted them up and we will shortly be having pea shoots in our salads.

Despite our first frost, of the month, last night it has been incredibly warm. This I am sure accounts for the infestation of aphids still being rampant on our outside stock. These black aphids are making a meal of garlic chives. We spray with a soft soap solution, please do not use washing up liquid as this is not suited for use on plants . This solution is readily available from any good hardware store or garden centre. So now I have finished the propagation schedule it is off to the seed shed to clean all the seeds we have harvested this year, get them labelled and filed so that we can find them quickly once the season is up and running. It’s a great job to do and the smell is amazing and, even better, it takes me away from the computer. Share this: / Jekka's Herb Farm / Leave a comment The RHS Chelsea Flower Show was wonderful this year. Despite high winds scattering debris and London Plane Tree pollen over immaculate gardens, and a spot of (much needed but rarely convenient) torrential rain, it was really very special and many visitors to our Pavilion Way stand commented that it was their favourite Chelsea ever. It was particularly exciting for us this year.

Not only did we launch Jekka’s Herbal Tea (which promptly sold out ), but we also grew our organic herbs for three major show gardens, including the gold medal winning B&Q garden by Laurie Chetwood & Patrick Collins… B&Q Garden, featuring organic edible herbs grown here on the farm …the Silver Gilt winning M&G Investment Garden by Bunny Guinness… The M&G garden, featuring our organically grown herbs …and the silver medal winning Skyshades garden by Marney Hall… Skyshades garden – organic, wild and beautiful (and a bit of Plane Tree pollen on the camera lense darn & blast it)! What made Chelsea particularly special for Jekka? Well, amidst brewing up herbal tea on our Pavilion Way stand.. Jekka's Herb Farm, Pavilion Way stand ..(which featured a beautiful dresser to display our teas, handmade from sustainable wood by Green Woods Furniture )… Dresser by Green Woods Furniture …moderating for the RHS judges, giving a VIP tour to Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall, with several BBC TV interviews thrown in for good measure, this year’s Chelsea Flower Show held the ultimate surprise for Jekka.

Completely unbeknown to Jekka, Rhododendron ‘Mrs T.H. Lowinsky’ bears the name of her Great Grandmother, named by Jekka’s Great Grandfather, an avid collector of rhododendrons. Jekka came across this beautiful flower, proudly on display by Chelsea gold medal winners Millais Nurseries . Rhododendron 'Mrs T H Lowinsky' What an amazing discovery! Next stop, Hampton Court Palace Flower Show , 5th – 10th July (or if you can’t wait for a browse and a sensuous sniff amongst the organic herbs , come along to our next Open Days 17th – 19th June, here on the farm in South Glos).

Share this: Chelsea Flower Show 2016: city wildlife flocks to the gardens | The Telegraph Chelsea Flower Show Chelsea Flower Show 2016: city wildlife flocks to the gardens A parakeet pokes its head out in anticipation of its next meal at the Chelsea Flower Show Credit: Martin Emmett Kate Bradbury 25 May 2016 • 10:47am Crows are eating Ann-Marie Powell’s tomatoes, a robin is bathing in Cleve West’s bird bath and, if you look up at the hole in the plane tree at the far end of Nick Bailey’s The Winton Beauty Of Mathematics Garden, you might spot a baby green parakeet poking its head out in anticipation of its next meal. The awards, the prestige, the smattering of celebrities and Royals are of no concern to Chelsea’s wildlife - it carries on regardless, and every garden is fair game. For 50 weeks of the year, the site of the Chelsea Flower Show , the grounds of the Royal Hospital, is not much more than a few football pitches. With impoverished soil from annual digging over, and closely clipped grass, it’s a virtual desert.

We’ve had bumblebees, hoverflies, ladybirds, holly blue butterflies, a particularly cheeky robin There are precious few worms in the soil and, despite the rows of London plane trees, just a small number of birds and bees, amphibians and mammals survives in an ever-changing theatre set. Yet each May, to coincide with bird nesting season and the emergence of the first worker bumblebees - not to mention the plethora of other insects that have hatched, migrated or woken up over the preceding few weeks - this sparse, barren landscape becomes a horticultural wonderland. Mature hedges and trees, water features and herbaceous plants at their flowering peak are time-travelled into position. And the wildlife of Chelsea is waiting in the wings. Wildlife arrive within hours of the gardeners planting their flowers Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley “It’s pretty instant”, says garden designer Charlotte Harris, who planted up Hugo Bugg’s Silver-Gilt- winning Royal Bank of Canada garden. “It happens as soon as the trolleys come in, loaded with plants.

We’ve had bumblebees, hoverflies, ladybirds, holly blue butterflies, a particularly cheeky robin...” As we walk around the garden she points out the bees’ pick of the garden’s plants: Salvia algeriensis, anchusa, poppies. Sure enough, the bees are gathering nectar and pollen as if the gardens have been there forever. Walking down Main Avenue, you would be forgiven for noticing only the alien sounds of green parakeets, but if you stop to listen you can make out the calls of blue tits as they pick through the imported oaks and hornbeams for insects to feed their young. A robin has taken to singing its dusk chorus from inside the Great Pavilion (which may or may not be the same one that bathes in Cleve’s bird bath and nibbles at Nick Bailey’s prawn mayonnaise sandwiches); a blackbird tries to make itself heard above the melee. Many of these birds are enjoying the 30 metres of hornbeam hedging at Matthew Wilson’s God’s Own County - A Garden for Yorkshire garden (which won Silver). “We have blue tits, house sparrows, blackbirds, robins, the works”, he says.

“Even though it’s transient it’s remarkable how good gardens are for wildlife. It just goes to show that if you build it they will come”. Robins can often be seen bathing in Cleve West’s bird bath Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley The arrival of wildlife to gardens can be fairly instant. Anything that flies can be there straight away - and the role of insects and birds, especially in May, is to gather food - any shyness of humans goes quickly out of the window. One blue tit chick can eat around 100 caterpillars a day, so the commotion of lorries and frantic gardeners planting up award-winning designs at the Chelsea Flower Show is of no concern at all - they’re concerned solely with keeping their chicks alive. If the arrival of topsoil reveals a family of earthworms, the robins and blackbirds are going to be there. And without the tits and finches picking through the trees for caterpillars and aphids, who knows what foreign invaders might have slipped through the net on these plants that have been flown in from all corners of the globe?

Animals soon arrived in God's Own Country garden, designed by Matthew Wilson Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley But what happens when you take this insect- and nectar-rich habitat away again and, once again, there’s nothing but barren football pitches? Does the wildlife simply move on, as transient as the gardens themselves? Or does it take a couple of days to adjust? A few years ago in my garden I left a pot of oregano on the patio for a week before finding a space for it in the border, and for two days afterwards the honeybees, guided by the waggle dances of their worker sisters, landed at the exact spot where the oregano had been, and finding only a faint circle of mud on the patio. They quickly found their quarry a couple of metres away in the border, but I imagine waggle dances and other methods of navigation are tweaked in the days after the Chelsea Flower Show. One year a pair of blackbirds started nesting in the hedge of a garden, and when the site was dismantled at the end of the week a section of hedge was left for the hapless parents to finish their job.

Whether that section of hedge was enough for them isn’t known, but the designers, as a whole, are happy to share their creations with the wildlife of Chelsea. 21 June - definition of 21 June by The Free Dictionary 21 June - definition of 21 June by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: midsummer , summer solstice June - the month following May and preceding July solstice - either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator summer , summertime - the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox; "they spent a lazy summer at the shore" Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: winter solstice References in periodicals archive ?

As at close of business on 21 June 2011, the unaudited net asset value per ordinary share (excluding current financial year revenue items) with the cumulative preference stock at par value using bid prices was 352.

Qantas cancels domestic and trans-Tasman services due to ash cloud Day Trip to Harrods 11 Dec from pounds 285* & Knightsbridge Shopping New Years Eve Dinner 31 Dec from pounds 250 Mothers Day Lunch 3 April from pounds 195 Hampton Court Palace 27 May from pounds 295 Chelsea Flower Show 27 May from pounds 335 Loch Lomond & the 3 June from pounds 295 Trossachs London: Sightseeing 21 June & from pounds 295 & River Thames Cruise 7 July Wimbledon 21 June from pounds 895 RHS Hampton Court 7 July from pounds 315 Flower Show Edinburgh & Royal 12 Aug from pounds 295 Yacht Britannia Edinburgh Fringe 12 Aug from pounds 295 Festival * SPECIAL OFFER pounds 100 OFF PER COUPLE ON SELECTED DEPARTURES (Subject to Availability ) All include a glass of Champagne, table canapes and four-course lunch/ dinner with half bottle of wine per person.

Question: The 'Chelsea Flower Show' is held in which month (a) May (b) June or (c) July?
Answer: (a) May